rupp@tetra.UUCP (William L. Rupp) (09/24/85)
This is in response to a question about shift-key modification for the Apple ][+. I have used two different gadgets to do this, and they both involved connecting a clip to a pin under the keyboard at one end, and to the game I/O port on the other. The first unit, from Micromax, had a 16 pin chip- like device that plugged into the game I/O port. It was designed so that another connector could then be plugged on top of it. Therefore you would have no conflict with joysticks, etc. The second device, which is in my current Apple ][+, has, instead of the 16-pin business, a second clip, which itself attaches to one of the pins on a game connector (I happen to have one of those game I/O extenders which allows you to hook up your joystick easily outside the case.) I prefer this one, since I did not have to unplug my game port extender (I hate removing and inserting chips!!!) to make it work. I purchased this device for a very reasonable price from a local Apple dealer. Sorry, I do not remember the name of the product. It is also possible to do a hardware modification which requires some motherboard soldering, or suchlike. I myself avoid this kind of remedy like the proverbial. Since these other devices are for sale, you probably will want to do likewise.
collinge@uvicctr.UUCP (Doug Collinge) (09/30/85)
Although I never did it (having a 2e instead of a 2+) a friend of mine discovered that the 2+ keyboard PCB uses a keyboard encoder chip with provisions for lower case - it just isn't hooked up. Furthermore, a standard slide switch can be installed in HOLES ALREADY PROVIDED ON THE PCB that gives either standard Apple or upper/lower case with the keyboard shift key. He chose to mount the switch on the front panel anyway for convenience. The problem is in the Apple monitor, which masks any lower case to upper case. The fix is simple if you put the monitor in the language card RAM. -- Doug Collinge School of Music, University of Victoria, PO Box 1700, Victoria, B.C., Canada, V8W 2Y2 decvax!nrl-css!uvicctr!collinge decvax!uw-beaver!uvicctr!collinge ubc-vision!uvicctr!collinge